"No," I laugh, handing him the last of the corn before rolling onto my knees to get back up. "I haven't dated. I haven't looked to, honestly. Until a few weeks ago, I could hardly have a conversation with someone."

"You don't want to date me," I laugh softly, starting a pile of silk to my side as I pause to pick it from between the kernals. There's a flicker of guilt at my own statement, but I shrug it off as I set my ear down and reach for another.

"I saw that woman a few weeks ago, you could do way better than me." I add jokingly.

"Maybe?" I shrug, carefully picking the fibers from the corn. "I think you've already done more than Mel ever did to pull me out of the funk I was in... and I don't know, I figure... it couldn't hurt, could it? Just seeing where things go? "

"Excellent!" I grin, unable to contain the excitement as it lights up my expression. I barely notice which ears of corn still need shocking as I start gathering them up to take with me to the grill.

"It'll be fun," I promise, already sliding off into a yammering mess as I wander over to the grill where I start throwing the corn on sans foil. "I can sneak you into all the tech spots where they don't allow witches. I don't know why, you're not exactly going to steal our ideas, you know? We have a life size, working dragon mecha... but I feel as though witches might prefer real dragons, you know?"

"They are not all they're cracked up to be." I chuckle, pulling the foil over in front of me so I can play with it absently. "They're just a bunch of gifted witches, really. They're originally from an area a bit east of Pallhagan, and most of what the world thinks of dragons comes from their illusions.

"Wait, what? Really?" I ask, unable to keep the disappointment from my voice as I turn the meat over on the grill before closing it. "Well, that's disappointing. I suppose I should have known, though. When I was nine, we had one attack the city.

"I remember being absolutely terrified," I admit with a laugh. "Nothe because of the attack - it didn't actually hurt anyone, just made a lot of pyrotechnics. But I remember it having a distinct lack of substance... didn't even rustle the air flying overhead. If it weren't for the roaring and the screaming and the heat, I'd have never known it was there. But at the time, that's what scared me."

"They're overrated hacks." I laugh, tearing at the foil and folding it. "But the requirements for pulling off those illusions are not cheap, and take a bit of finesse. Probably why they're considered illusive. They're not, really. Just a bunch of rich old tarts too attached to their money."

"Nothing useful," I shrug, my fingers pinching along a seam as I work aimlessly. "So when was the last time you were in your shop? When I got here last night, you seemed a bit... off. I know I haven't left my apartment in weeks, kinda wondered if it was the same for you."

"Depends on what he's up to," I shrug as I offer her some chips. "I've gone months without hearing from him. But when he gets bored or wants me to do a job for him, or God forbid gets wind that I'm not doing well, then I can't get rid of him."